Category Archives: Paris Saint-Germain

The Paris Saint-Germain fans did all they could to lift their team against Real Madrid but the team departs the competition with barely a whimper and questions over the ‘project’

“All that, for that?” read L’Équipe’s damning headline on Wednesday morning. On a night when the team’s fans had done their best to create a raucous, fiery atmosphere, evincing their belief in a comeback for their side, Paris Saint-Germain unequivocally let their supporters down. Overturning Real Madrid’s 3-1 lead from the previous leg was always going to be a tall order, and the loss of Neymar to injury was also a not inconsiderable obstacle, even if his replacement, Ángel Di María had been in form of late. However, it was not the elimination itself that stung the most, even after a summer in which the club had spent the better part of €400m, but rather its insipid manner.

Farewell, then, Paris, a team that for all its vaulting ambition never does seem to be able to get past the spring. On a gripping, relentlessly noisy night at the Parc des Princes, second-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro were enough to extinguish Paris Saint-Germain’s hopes of making it to the last eight of the Champions League.

A 5-2 aggregate victory hardly does justice to the French champions’ fine showing in the opening 70 minutes of the first leg of this tie. But the ease of Real Madrid’s ultimate victory speaks volumes not just for their own champion poise, but for the difficulty of raising the revs of the PSG project from the room temperature French league.

For the manager, no excuse will be tolerated – losing Neymar was unfortunate, but losing this tie will be seen as careless

As he previewed his team’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid on Tuesday, Unai Emery posed a question and tried not to sound like a man clutching at straws: “Why does Uefa let group winners play the second legs at home?” the Paris Saint‑Germain manager asked before providing the obvious answer. “Maybe because it is an advantage to play the second leg at home.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar is expected to be out of action for up to three months after he undergoes surgery on his broken metatarsal, according to Brazil’s team doctor.

Rodrigo Lasmar, quoted on the website of the Brazilian newspaper O Globo, said the world’s most expensive footballer was resigned to the lengthy lay-off. The 26-year-old was carried off nine minutes from the end of his side’s 3-0 win over Marseille on Sunday.

“Neymar? He’s a top player. I hope it’s nothing big. I’d prefer to see the best players on the pitch, even if it’s against us.” With the Brazilian forward likely unavailable to face Marseille for Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France on Wednesday, Rudi García could afford to be magnanimous on this occasion, even if another loss in that competition looks likely to follow his team’s 3-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Even before Neymar’s exit late in the match Paris Saint-Germain had not been at their best. That said, in a game that was marked from the outset by a robust physicality (and 11 bookings), the leaders turned in a determined performance, offering a renewed focus with nary a hint of the side that had conceded a raft of chances to Strasbourg a week ago. Perhaps more important than that solidity, though, was a newfound embrace of team play, something this side has lacked too often in the current campaign and something that will be all the more necessary in next week’s return leg against Real Madrid.

• Neymar taken off on stretcher against Marseille• Milan beat Roma 2-0 with impressive show

Neymar was carried off on a stretcher in Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 game against Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night. The world’s most expensive player rolled his ankle in the final quarter of the game and was in some discomfort as he was carried away by medical staff.

PSG were leading at the time and set to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 14 points. The head coach, Unai Emery, was hopeful on Neymar’s condition. He told the club’s official website after the 3-0 win: “The injury to Neymar was the only black mark. We hope it is nothing serious, we will wait for the scans.”

Unai Emery said that the preparation for this game started at the Camp Nou last season but he cannot have meant like this. It was not three goals in seven minutes and it is not decisive yet but Paris Saint-Germain did concede twice in that period to leave them facing another premature European exit. They still have the Parc des Princes and Zinedine Zidane warned that “anything can happen” in three weeks’ time, but after Adrien Rabiot and Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the first half, Marco Asensio came on to create late goals for Ronaldo and Marcelo, just when PSG appeared to be exercising some control. “They scored when we were at our best,” Emery said, which is why it is Madrid who are in control of the tie now.

“This game is a real opportunity for us,” said PSG’s manager. “We want to continue to grow and playing a knockout game against the European champions, the 11-time champions, is an opportunity to show where we are and where we want to get to.”

On PSG’s opponents: “We are up against the record holders in this competition,” said Emery. “They’re historically the best side in this competition. We respect them both individually and collectively. I am confident my players can demonstrate their ability and that we’re ready to win this match. I’m expecting the best Real Madrid side tomorrow. The 11 they name will be strong. It’s Madrid, they’ll play the side they think will win them the game.”

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A master at saying plenty while simultaneously saying nothing, the Real Madrid denied manager denied he was under sort of pressure ahead of tonight’s match. “We are happy to play these kinds of games – it’s not pressure,” he said. “We live for these games. Fans want to see a great game of football and nothing else. You need to ask Unai Emery about pressure from their point of view. It’s a 50-50 game. We’re preparing to play the best game possible. It’s evens, as it always is.

On the meeting of tonight’s star turns. “Ronaldo and Neymar are great players,” he said. “[With Ronaldo] we are talking about a player who has done extraordinary things, won five Ballons d’Or and you can’t compare them. It’s not Ronaldo v Neymar, it’s Madrid v Paris. Everyone wants to see a good game. I’m not thinking about my future. I’m only focused on tomorrow. I can’t control the rest; the only thing I’m interested in is tomorrow. It’s not a final – it is two Champions League games. We want to play well and if we do that, we’ll have a good chance. The squad are focused on tomorrow’s game. I’m thinking about that and that only. The system is not important; what’s important is how we play.”

Having spent the past few months making himself even more popular than Raymond Domenech with the French public, Neymar has decided that he needs a fresh challenge. His gap year in Paris has been a lovely, life-affirming experience.

He has been able to give meaning to the lives of Ligue 1’s adorable little footballers by allowing them to see his array of skills up close and he has made friendships that will last a lifetime. Edinson Cavani will certainly be devastated to see the Brazilian leave. But the fun has to stop. It’s time to get serious. Real Madrid want Neymar. Cheerio!